Collection and delivery mail-box.



CQLLECTION AND DELIVERY MAIL BOX.

(Application filed Feb. 5, 1901.)

(No ModeI.)

W H [NVENTUR arm/5555s.- h

6/: m N wzee ffirown/ 5 y Ma a}, M4

' Q Aim/2 0):)

r YER: co. swam-1.11am. vusnmcmn. c. c.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. BROWN, OF HILLSBORO, ILLINOIS.

COLLECTION AND DELIV ERY MAIL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,156, dated April30, 1901.

' Application filed February 5, 1901i Serial No. 46,099. (N0 model.) I

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES P. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hi llsboro, in the county of Montgomery and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCollection and Delivery Mail-Boxes; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My present invention relates to mail-boxes, and contemplates certain newand useful im provements in the class of boxes more especially employedin connection with rural mailroutes,the invention having for its objectsimplicity and durability of construction and increased efficiency.

The nature of myinvention will be readily understood from a reading ofthe following detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l isa perspective view of amail-box embodying myinvention,fulland dotted lines indicating thedifferent positions of the signaling device employed in connection withthe box. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is'across-sectional view on line 3 3'of Fig. 2 viewed in the direction ofthe arrow.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by letter, A denotes the box,having the preferablyintegrally formed sides a a and top a and therecessed bottom a riveted to the sides and receiving a block 17, securedto the top of the supporting-post B.

C denotes the door, located at the end of the box and hinged at its topon a pintle-rod d to swing upwardly. The door is provided with sideflanges c c, and at its lower end is a hole 0, which when the door islowered registers with the hole a in a depending flange a on the bottom.The holes 0 a receive the shackle of a padlock e. The door and the end aof the box are preferably set back from the edges of thesides and top torender the box weatherproof at this point.

Above the door 0 is an opening for the introduction of mail-matter to becollected.

F denotes a lid for the opening, which is hinged on a pintle-rod d toswing upwardly, the holes for the rod being formed in cars ff at thesides of the lid. The lower edge of the lid is bent to form a head f,which contacts with the outer surface of the door and prevents theentrance of water and which also serves as a handhold in raising thelid.

As indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, a door similar to that abovedescribed may be provided at the opposite end of the box for patrons orhouseholders use.

G designates a signal indicating to the carrier that inail-matterhasbeen deposited for collection. The signal consists of an arm pivoted onthe inner side of the door on a rivet g and adapted, to be moved tobring one end below the door into display position.

H denotes the patrons signal, which consists of a flag h, carried by astafi It, pivoted on a bolt 1', the bolt being passed through an openingin the box side and into the block. The st-afi is provided with a slot72 to receive the bolt, whereby the staff is permitted endwise movementto enable the seating of its lowerend in asocketj on the post B. Thestaff is out of display position when it is moved to a horizontalposition and is supported by a stop 70, secured to and projecting beyondthe block b. When it is desired to display the signal, the staff isswung to a vertical position, and by reason of the slot 71/2 it ismovable endwise to bring its lower end into the socket j, which holds itfirmly against accidental displacement.

I claim as my invention- 1. A collection and delivery mail-box having anend opening, a hinged door covering the lower part thereof whichconstitutes the collection-opening, providing above it a slot for theinsertion of mail-matter, and a hinged lid covering the slot andprovided with a headed lower end lapping and contacting with the upperend of the door.

2. A collection and delivery mail-box having an end opening, a bottomhaving a depending flange extending throughout its end and provided withan aperture, a vertically- .swinging door closing the lower part of theopening thereby providing above it a slot for the insertion ofmail-matter said door having an aperture registering with theflangeaperture, and a vertically-swinginglid for the slot having a beadat its lower end contacting with the upper end of the door.

3. A mail-box having a projection affording a stop, a post supportingthe box provided with a socket, and a signal-staif pivoted on the box tobe capable of endwise movement whereby the staff may be maintained in avertical position by the'engagement of its lower end with the socket,and may be swung to a horizontal position and supportedby the stop.

4. A mail-box having a projection afiording a stop, a post supportingthe box provided with asocket, a signal consisting of a flag and staffsaid staif having a'slot intermediate of its ends, and abolt or pinpassed through the slot into the box and forming a pivot for the stafibut permitting endwise movement whereby the latter may assume a verticaland a horizontal position and be maintained in such positionsrespectively by the socket and stop.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnessesJAMES P. BROWN.

. Witnesses:

THOMAS 0. WHITE, THOMAS P. MARTIN.

